and we encircled him as a bracelet encircles a wrist, shielding him with every ounce of strength and with whatever weapons we possessed.

The noble Messenger ﷺ then saw that I had no shield to ward off the idolaters’ blows. He caught sight of a man who was turning to flee (1) while carrying a shield and called out, “Pass your shield to someone who is still fighting.” The man dropped his shield and went on his way. I seized it and used it to screen myself while protecting the Messenger ﷺ.

I continued striking in his defense with my sword and loosing arrows on his behalf until my many wounds left me exhausted. While we were in that state, Ibn Qamiʿah charged in like an enraged camel, shouting, “Where is Muhammad? … Show me Muhammad!” Musʿab ibn ʿUmayr and I stepped forward to block his path, but he felled Musʿab with a single sword-stroke and left him lifeless